Artist Statement: Most of my sketchbooks are filled with very abstract images. Abstract eventually morphed into realism with a touch of ambiguity--think faceless people, dreamy imagery, at least one moon, and a lot of balloons. That's exactly what my design is. It's a mix of Oz and Wonderland that's seemingly familiar to life as we know it. You can't quite put your finger on what makes it so different from your day-to-day. Maybe that's because we're all more alike than we think. You should look at this piano and have some questions (because I have several). How long have the boy and girl under the tree been talking? Does that stag feel a little out of place and maybe too big or too small? Where's the witch headed? Maybe she's friends with the cat. Wait, is the cat really a cat? He could be an old friend. What's the deal with the boys on the sides? I wonder if they know each other. I'll leave the interpretation of the scene up to you. It should have a unique meaning to your stage of life, and hopefully it'll mean something new to you in a few years, and a few years after that, and a few years after that. Dream on!
My name is Peyton, and I'm a Virginia-based artist, storyteller, and college recruiter. The arts and humanities have always been an important part of my upbringing. I've been drawing since I could hold a pencil and painting since I understood how to blend. I grew up in the theatre and devoted over a decade to performing. A decade is a long time for me. I've only lived two full ones! I've been called to make people feel and think, and I'm still figuring out new ways to accomplish that goal. When I'm not busy spreading the good word about Christopher Newport University, you can find me frantically keeping up with my daily journal, doodling a tree, thrifting, sending pics of my thrift finds to my mother, or sharing ghost stories over the fire. If it's warm outside and I'm not answering your call, get in your car and meet me at the beach. I've been there since before you woke up, and I'm not leaving any time soon. The most important project is the next one. Whether it be theatre, visual arts, TV/film, music, voice acting, administration, or even higher education or student affairs, the world is too big to not take advantage of exciting opportunities. Keep creating!
